Thursday, December 13, 2007

An altercation between two 13-year-old girls at Spring Ridge Middle School in Lexington Park resulted in one of them setting the other's hair on fire, the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.

Although the victim's hair burned, she did not sustain serious injuries to her skin or scalp, police said. She was not hospitalized.

The incident occurred last Thursday. The victim was in a hallway at the school when the other girl allegedly pulled out a lighter and ignited the student's hair.

Authorities charged the girl with the lighter with second-degree assault and disruption of school activities, according to the Sheriff's Office. She was released to the custody of a parent. The case is pending action by the Department of Juvenile Services.

-- DAN MORSE